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Полезное |
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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
Словарь американских идиом 8000 единиц - Letter P.
[p] See: MIND ONE'S P'S AND Q'S.
[pace] See: CHANGE OF PACE, KEEP PACE, PUT THROUGH ONE'S PACES,
SNAIL'S PACE.
[pace off] See: STEP OFF(2).
[pace-setter], [pace-setting] See: SET THE PACE.
[pack a punch] or [pack a wallop] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To be able
to give a powerful blow; have a dangerous fist. * /He packed a mean
punch./ 2. To have a violent effect; be powerful. * /It was vodka, and
it packed quite a wallop./
[pack off] {v.}, {informal} To send away; dismiss abruptly. * /When
an Englishman got in trouble long ago, his family would pack him off
to Australia or some other distant land./ * /Jane couldn't really get
started on her homework until she had packed the children off to
school./
[pack rat] {n.}, {informal} A person who cannot part with old,
useless objects; an avid collector of useless things; a junk hoarder.
* /"Why are there so many things in this room?" John asked. "It is my
brother's room, and he is a pack rat; he is unable to throw stuff
away."/
[packed (in) like sardines] {adj. phr.} So tightly crowded that
there is hardly room to turn. * /The trains are so full during rush
hour that we must go to work packed in like sardines./
[pack of lies] {n. phr.} An unbelievable story; unprovable
allegations. * /What Al told us about his new girlfriend was nothing
but a pack of lies./
[pack one's bag] {v. phr.} To leave a place out of anger,
annoyance, or disagreement. * /"This place is beginning to irritate
me," she said to her friend. "I want to pack my bags and get out of
here."/
[pack up] {v. phr.} To pack one's suitcase for traveling; prepare a
package. * /Without saying a single word, the unhappy husband packed
up and left./
[paddle] See: UP THE CREEK or UP THE CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE.
[paddle one's own canoe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To work without
help; earn your own living; support yourself. * /After his father
died, John had to paddle his own canoe./ Syn.: HOE ONE'S OWN ROW.
Compare: MAKE ONE'S WAY.
[paddy wagon] {n.}, {informal} A police van used for transporting
prisoners to jail or the police station. * /The police threw the
demonstrators into the paddy wagon./
[pad the bill] {v. phr.} To add false expenses to a bill; make a
bill larger than it really was. * /The salesman padded the bill for
his traveling expenses by exaggerating his food expenses./
[pain] See: AT PAINS, FEEL NO PAIN, GIVE A PAIN, GROWING PAINS, ON
PAIN OF, TAKE PAINS.
[pain in the ass] or [pain in the neck] {n.}, {slang}, {vulgar with
ass} An obnoxious or bothersome person or event. * /Phoebe Hochrichter
is a regular pain in the neck (ass)./
[paint a gloomy picture] {v. phr.} To describe something in a
gloomy, pessimistic way. * /We are sad because the weather forecast
has painted a gloomy picture for all of next week when we go on
vacation./
[paint oneself into a corner] {v. phr.} To get oneself into a bad
situation that is difficult or impossible to get out of. * /By
promising to both lower taxes and raise the defense budget, the
president has painted himself into a corner./
[paint the lily] See: GILD THE LILY.
[paint the town red] or [paint the town] {v. phr.}, {slang} To go
out to drink and have a good time; celebrate wildly; carouse. * /It
was the sailors' first night ashore; they painted the town red./
Compare: ON THE TOWN(2).
[pair] See: TAKE TO ONE'S HEELS also SHOW A CLEAN PAIR OF HEELS.
[pair off] {v.} 1. To make a pair of; put two together; associate;
match. * /Mrs. Smith paired off her guests by age and tastes./ 2. To
belong to a pair; become one of a pair. * /Jane paired off with Alice
in a tennis doubles match./ 3. To divide or join into pairs. * /Later
in the day the picnic crowd paired off for walks and boat rides./
[pair up] {v.} 1. To make a pair of; match. * /When she finished
the mending, she paired up the socks./ 2. To form a pair; to be or
become one of a pair. * /Not all the socks would pair up./ * /Joe
paired up with Charlie to work on the lesson./
[pajamas] See: CAT'S MEOW or CAT'S PAJAMAS.
[pal] See: PEN PAL.
[pale] See: BEYOND THE PALE.
[pale around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.
[palm] See: CARRY OFF THE PALM, GREASE ONE'S PALM, ITCHING PALM.
[palm off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To sell or give (something) by
pretending it is something more valuable; to sell or give by trickery.
* /He palmed off his own painting as a Rembrandt./ * /The salesman
palmed off pine wood floors as oak./ Syn.: FOB OFF, PASS OFF. 2. To
deceive (someone) by a trick or lie. * /He palmed his creditors off
with a great show of prosperity./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 3. To introduce
someone as a person he isn't; present in a false pretense. * /He
palmed the girl off as a real Broadway actress./
[pan] See: FLASH IN THE PAN, OUT OF THE PRYING PAN INTO THE FIRE.
[Pandora's box] {n. phr.}, {literary} A thing or problem that, if
activated, will give rise to many unmanageable problems. * /If they
insist on having that inquiry, they will open up a Pandora's box./
Compare: CAN OF WORMS.
[pan gravy] {n.} Gravy made with meat drippings with seasoning and
often a little water. * /His wife liked cream gravy, but he preferred
pan gravy./ * /Pan gravy from country ham is often called red-eye
gravy./
[panic] See: PUSH THE PANIC BUTTON.
[pan out] {v.}, {informal} To have a result, especially a good
result; result favorably; succeed. * /Suppose the class tried to make
money by selling candy. How would that pan out?/ * /Edison's efforts
to invent an electric light bulb did not pan out until he used
tungsten wires./
[pant for] {v. phr.} To desire something very deeply. * /He is
panting for his girlfriend, who went out of town to see her family./
[pants] See: ANTS IN ONE'S PANTS, CATCH ONE WITH ONE'S PANTS DOWN,
FANCY PANTS, FLY BY THE SEAT OF ONE'S PANTS, GET THE LEAD OUT OF ONE'S
PANTS, KICK IN THE PANTS, WEAR THE TROUSERS or WEAR THE PANTS.
[paper] See: ON PAPER, WALKING PAPERS.
[par] See: UP TO PAR.
[parade] See: HIT PARADE.
[parade rest] {n.} A position in which soldiers stand still, with
feet apart and hands behind their backs. * /The marines were at parade
rest in front of the officials' platform./ Compare: AT EASE(3).
[parallel bars] {n.} Two horizontal bars the same distance apart,
that are a few feet above the floor of a gymnasium. * /The boys
exercised on the parallel bars in the gym./
[parcel] See: PART AND PARCEL.
[parcel out] {v.} To give out in parts or shares; divide. * /He
parceled out the remaining food to the workers./
[par for the course] {n. phr.}, {informal} Just what was expected;
nothing unusual; a typical happening. - Usually refers to things going
wrong. * /Mary is very clumsy so it was par for the course when she
bumped into the table and broke the vase./ * /When John came late
again, Mary said, "That's par for the course."/ Compare: ALL IN A
DAY'S WORK, RUNNING TRUE TO FORM.
[pare down] {v. phr.} To limit; economize; reduce. * /With a
smaller income per month, the family had to pare down their household
expenses./
[parliamentary law] {n.} The rules for legislative or other
meetings. * /The club followed parliamentary law at the business
meeting./
[parrot-fashion] {adv.} Like a parrot; by rote memorization and
without any understanding. * /The candidate delivered a speech that
was prepared for him and he read it parrot-fashion./
[part] See: DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOR, FOOL AND HIS
MONEY ARE SOON PARTED, FOR MY PART, FOR ONE'S PART also ON ONE'S PART,
FOR THE MOST PART, IN PART, MAN OF PARTS, TAKE PART.
[partake of] {v.}, {formal} 1. To take some of; receive a share of;
eat. * /He partook of ordinary country fare as he traveled./ 2. To
have the same qualities as; show the characteristics of. * /Her way of
cooking partook of both Italian and American habits./
[part and parcel] {n. phr.} A necessary or important part;
something necessary to a larger thing. - Usually followed by "of". *
/Freedom of speech is part and parcel of the liberty of a free man./
[part company] {v. phr.} 1. To part with someone; leave each other;
separate. * /The boys parted company as they came from the park./ *
/George parted company with the others at his front door./ 2. To be
different from someone in opinion or action; follow your own way;
disagree; differ. * /They parted company on where the new highway
should be built./ * /The mayor parted company with the newspapers on
raising taxes./
[partial to] {v. phr.} Having a weakness for; favorable toward. *
/He seems to be partial to blondes while his brother is partial to
redheads./
[particular] See: IN PARTICULAR.
[parting of the ways] {n. phr.} 1. The point where a road or path
divides; a fork. * /They stood undecided at a parting of the ways,
where a forest path forked./ 2. A time or place where a choice must be
made; a deciding point. * /He had come to a parting of the ways: he
had to choose the high school courses that would prepare him for
college, or the courses that would prepare him for business./
[part of the furniture] {n. phr.} In a job or position for so long
that one is taken entirely for granted, like a part of the physical
surroundings. * /He has been working in the same office for so many
years now that people consider him to be a part of the furniture./
[part with] {v.} 1. To separate from; leave. * /He parted with us
at the end of the trip./ Compare: PART COMPANY. 2. To let go. * /They
were sorry to part with the old house./ * /He had to part with his
secretary when she got married./ Compare: GIVE UP.
[party] See: HEN PARTY, LIFE OF THE PARTY, NECK-TIE PARTY, THROW A
PARTY.
[party line] {n. phr.} Ideas, policies, and goals set forth by the
leadership of a group or organization. * /Dan seldom has an original
idea but he keeps faithfully repeating his company's party line./
[party to] {adj. phr.} Concerned with; participating in. * /The
prosecution has been trying to show that the defendant was party to a
fraud./
[pass] See: BRING TO PASS, COME TO PASS, FORWARD PASS, JUMP PASS,
SCREEN PASS.
[pass around] {v. phr.} To circulate from one to another;
distribute something among a group of people. * /Why doesn't he pass
around the appetizers to the guests?/
[pass away] {v.} 1. To slip by; go by; pass. * /We had so much fun
that the weekend passed away before we realized it./ * /Forty years
had passed away since they had met./ 2. To cease to exist; end;
disappear; vanish * /When automobiles became popular, the use of the
horse and buggy passed away./ 3. To have your life stop; die. * /He
passed away at eighty./ Syn.: PASS ON(3), PASS OUT(3).
[pass by] See: PASS OVER.
[pass by the board] See: GO BY THE BOARD.
[passed ball] {n.} A pitched baseball missed by the catcher when he
should have been able to catch it. * /The batter singled and went to
second on a passed ball./
[pass for] {v. phr.} To be taken for; be considered as. * /Charles
speaks Arabic so fluently that he could easily pass for an Arab./
[passing] See: IN PASSING.
[pass muster] {v. phr.}, {informal} To pass a test or check-up; be
good enough. * /After a practice period, Sam found that he was able to
pass muster as a lathe operator./ * /His work was done carefully, so
it always passed muster./ Compare: MEASURE UP.
[pass off] {v.} 1. To sell or give (something) by false claims;
offer (something fake) as genuine. * /The dishonest builder passed off
a poorly built house by pretending it was well constructed./ Syn.: FOB
OFF, PALM OFF(2). To claim to be someone you are not; pretend to be
someone else. * /He passed himself off as a doctor until someone
checked his record./ 3. To go away gradually; disappear. * /Mrs.
White's morning headache had passed off by that night./ 4. To reach an
end; run its course from beginning to end. * /The party passed off
well./ Syn.: GO OFF.
[pass on] {v.} 1. To give an opinion about; judge; settle. * /The
college passed on his application and found him acceptable./ * /The
committee recommended three people for the job and the president
passed on them./ 2. To give away (something that has been outgrown.) *
/As he grew up, he passed on his clothes to his younger brother./
Compare: HAND DOWN. 3. To die. * /Mary was very sorry to hear that her
first grade teacher had passed on./ Syn.: PASS AWAY(3), PASS OUT(3).
[pass out] {v.}, {informal} 1. To lose consciousness; faint. * /She
went back to work while she was still sick, and finally she just
passed out./ Compare: GIVE OUT(3). 2. or {slang} [pass out cold] To
drop into a drunken stupor; become unconscious from drink. * /After
three drinks, the man passed out./ 3. To die. * /Life came and went
weakly in him for hours after surgery; then he passed out./ Syn.: PASS
AWAY(3), PASS ON(3).
[pass over] or [pass by] {v.} To give no attention to; not notice;
ignore, * /I can pass over the disorderliness of the troops, but their
disobedience is serious./ * /In choosing men to be given a salary
raise, the foreman passed Mr. Hart by./ * /She was unattractive, the
kind of a girl that everybody would pass by./
[pass the buck] {v. phr.}, {informal} To make another person decide
something or accept a responsibility or give orders instead of doing
it yourself; shift or escape responsibility or blame; put the duty or
blame on someone else. * /Mrs. Brown complained to the man who sold
her the bad meat, but he only passed the buck and told her to see the
manager./ * /If you break a window, do not pass the buck; admit that
you did it./ Compare: LET GEORGE DO IT. - [buck-passer] {n. phr.} A
person who passes the buck. * /Mr. Jones was a buck-passer even at
home, and tried to make his wife make all the decisions./ -
[buck-passing] {n.} or {adj.} * /Buck-passing clerks in stores make
customers angry./
[pass the hat] {v. phr.} To solicit money; take up collections for
a cause. * /The businessmen's club frequently passes the hat for
contributions toward scholarships./
[pass the time of day] {v. phr.} To exchange greetings; stop for a
chat. * /They met at the corner and paused to pass the time of day./
[pass through one's mind] See: CROSS ONE'S MIND.
[pass up] {v.} To let (something) go by; refuse. * /Mary passed up
the dessert because she was on a diet./ * /John was offered a good job
in California, but he passed it up because he didn't want to move./
Compare: TURN DOWN.
[pass upon] {v. phr.} To express an opinion about; judge. * /George
said he wanted his wife to pass up the new house before he decided to
buy it./
[pass with flying colors] See: WITH FLYING COLORS.
[past master] {n. phr.} An expert. * /Alan wins so often because he
is a past master at chess./
[past one's peak] {adj. phr.} No longer as strong, efficient, or
able as one once was, usually because of advanced age and decreased
ability. * /He used to be a terrific athlete but we're afraid he is
past his peak./
[pat] See: PIT-A-PAT, STAND PAT.
[pat-a-cake] {n.} A clapping game that keeps time to a nursery
rhyme. * /Mother played pat-a-cake with the baby./
[patch up] {v.} 1. To mend a hole or break; repair; fix. * /He
patched up a couple of old tires./ * /The lovers patched up their
quarrel./ 2. To put together in a hurried or shaky way. * /They
patched up a hasty peace./
[pat on the back(1)] {v. phr.} 1. To clap lightly on the back in
support, encouragement, or praise. * /The coach patted the player on
the back and said a few encouraging words./ 2. To make your support or
encouragement for (someone) felt; praise. * /After he won the game,
everyone patted him on the back for days./
[pat on the back(2)] {n. phr.} 1. An encouraging tap of the hand on
someone's back; a show of sympathy or support. * /I gave her a pat on
the back and told her she had done fine work./ 2. A word or gesture of
praise or other encouragement; applause. * /Pats on the back weren't
enough; he wanted hard cash./
[patrol] See: SHORE PATROL.
[Paul] See: ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
[pause] See: GIVE PAUSE.
[pavement] See: POUND THE PAVEMENT.
[pave the way] {v. phr.} To make preparation; make easy. *
/Aviation paved the way for space travel./ * /A good education paves
the way to success./
[pay] See: DEVIL TO PAY.
[pay a call] {v. phr.} To visit someone. * /"Come and pay us a call
some time, when you're in town," Sue said to Henry./
[pay as one goes] {v. phr.} To pay cash; to pay at once; to avoid
charging anything bought; to avoid debt entirely by paying cash. -
Usually used with "you". * /It is best to pay as you go; then you will
not have to worry about paying debts later./
[pay attention] {v. phr.} To listen to someone; hear and understand
someone alertly. * /"Pay attention, children!" the teacher cried,
"Here is your homework for next week!"/
[pay court to] {v. phr.} To woo; to shower with attention. * /He
had been paying court to her for three long years before he worked up
the courage to ask her to marry him./
[pay dirt] {n.}, {slang} 1. The dirt in which much gold is found. *
/The man searched for gold many years before he found pay dirt./ 2.
{informal} A valuable discovery. - Often used in the phrase "strike
pay dirt". * /When Bill joined the team, the coach struck pay dirt./ *
/Jean looked in many books for facts about her hometown, and finally
she struck pay dirt./ Compare: STRIKE IT RICH.
[pay down] {v. phr.} 1. To give as a deposit on some purchase, the
rest of which is to be paid in periodic installments. * /"How much can
you pay down on the house, sir?" the realtor asked./ 2. To decrease a
debt with periodical payments. * /I'd like to pay down the charges on
my credit cards./ Compare: DOWN PAYMENT.
[pay for] {v.} To have trouble because of (something you did wrong
or did not do); be punished or suffer because of. * /When Bob could
not get a good job, he realized he had to pay for all the years of
fooling around instead of working in school./ * /Mary was very mean to
John because she wanted to make him pay for all the years in which he
had ignored her./ Compare: MAKE UP(3b), PAY OFF.
[pay in advance] See: IN ADVANCE.
[pay lip service to] See: LIP SERVICE.
[payoff] {n.} Culmination point; climax. * /After many months of
patient labor on your book, the payoff comes when you see the first
printed copy./
[pay off] {v. phr.} 1. To pay the wages of. * /The men were paid
off just before quitting time, the last day before the holiday./ 2. To
pay and discharge from a job. * /When the building was completed he
paid off the laborers./ 3. To hurt (someone) who has done wrong to
you; get revenge on. * /When Bob tripped Dick, Dick paid Bob off by
punching him in the nose./ Syn.: PAY BACK. 4. {informal} To bring a
return; make profit. * /At first Mr. Harrison lost money on his
investments, but finally one paid off./ 5. {informal} To prove
successful, rewarding, or worthwhile. * /Ben's friendship with the old
man who lived beside him paid off in pleasant hours and broadened
interests./ * /John studied hard before the examination, and it paid
off. He made an A./
[pay one a left-handed compliment] See: LEFT-HANDED COMPLIMENT.
[pay one back in his own coin] {v. phr.} To retaliate. * /Jim
refused to help Bob when he needed it most, so Bob decided to pay him
back in his own coin and told him to go and look for help elsewhere./
[pay one's respect to] {v. phr.} To discharge one's social
obligations by visiting someone or by calling them on the phone. *
/The newly arrived people paid their respects to their various
neighbors during their first couple of weeks in town./
[pay one's way] {v. phr.} 1. To pay in cash or labor for your
expenses. * /He paid his way by acting as a guide./ 2. To be
profitable; earn as much as you cost someone; be valuable to an
employer; to yield a return above expenses. * /The bigger truck paid
its way from the start./ * /We had to offer our new manager a large
salary, but he was a capable man, and paid his way./ Compare: WORTH
ONE'S SALT.
[pay out] See: PAY OFF.
[pay the piper] or [pay the fiddler] {v. phr.} To suffer the
results of being foolish; pay or suffer because of your foolish acts
or wasting money. * /Bob had spent all his money and got into debt, so
now he must pay the piper./ * /Fred had a fight, broke a window, and
quarreled with his counselor so now he must pay the fiddler./ Compare:
PACE THE MUSIC(2). (From the proverb "He who dances must pay the piper
(or the fiddler).")
[pay through the nose] {v. phr.}, {informal} To pay at a very high
rate; pay too much. * /He had wanted experience, but this job seemed
like paying through the nose for it./ * /There was a shortage of cars;
if you found one for sale, you had to pay through the nose./
[pay up] {v.} To pay in full; pay the amount of; pay what is owed.
* /The monthly installments on the car were paid up./ * /He pays his
dues up promptly./ * /He gets behind when he is out of work but always
pays up when he is working again./
[peace] See: HOLD ONE'S PEACE.
[pearl] See: CAST PEARLS BEFORE SWINE or CAST ONE'S PEARLS BEFORE
SWINE.
[pebble] See: NOT THE ONLY PEBBLE ON THE BEACH.
[peck] See: HUNT AND PECK.
[pecking order] {n.} The way people are ranked in relation to each
other (for honor, privilege, or power); status classification;
hierarchy. * /After the president was in office several months, his
staff developed a pecking order./
[pedestal] See: ON A PEDESTAL.
[peel] See: KEEP ONE'S EYES PEELED.
[peel off] {v.} To dive away from a group of airplanes in a flight
formation; bring one plane down from a group. * /As the group neared
the home base, pilot after pilot peeled off for a landing./
[peeping Tom] {n.} A man or boy who likes sly peeping. * /He was
picked up by the police as a peeping Tom./
[peg] See: SQUARE PEG IN A ROUND HOLE, TAKE DOWN A PEG.
[peg away] {v.} To work methodically, industriously, or steadily *
/Thomson pegged away for years at a shoe repair business./ * /Jones
kept pegging away, and finally recognition came./
[pen] See: POISON-PEN, SLIP OF THE PEN.
[penalty box] {n.} A place where penalized hockey players are
required to go to wait until the penalty is over. * /Two players got
into a fight and were sent to the penalty box for two minutes./
[penny for one's thoughts] Please tell me what you are thinking
about; what's your daydream. * /"A penny for your thoughts!" he
exclaimed./
[penny pincher], [penny pinching] See: PINCH PENNIES.
[penny wise and pound foolish] Wise or careful in small things but
not careful enough in important things. - A proverb. * /Mr. Smith's
fence is rotting and falling down because he wouldn't spend money to
paint it. He is penny wise and pound foolish./
[pen pal] {n.} A friend who is known to someone through an exchange
of letters. * /John's pen pal writes him letters about school in
Alaska./
[people who live in glass houses should not throw stones] Do not
complain about other people if you are as bad as they are. - A
proverb. * /Mary says that Betty is jealous, but Mary is more jealous
herself. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones./
[pep talk] {n.}, {informal} A speech that makes people feel good so
they will try harder and not give up. * /The football coach gave the
team a pep talk./ * /Mary was worried about her exams, but felt better
after the teacher's pep talk./
[period of grace] See: GRACE PERIOD.
[perish the thought] {v. phr.} Let us not even think of it; may it
never come true. - Used as an exclamation. * /If John fails the
college entrance exam - perish the thought - he will go back to high
school for one more year./ * /Perish the thought that Mary should have
cancer./ Compare: GOD FORBID.
[perk up] {v.} To get or give back pep, vigor, health, or spirit;
become or make more lively; liven up. * /He perked up quickly after
his illness./ * /The rain perked up the flowers wonderfully./
[person] See: IN PERSON.
[pet name] {n. phr.} A special or abbreviated name indicating
affection. * /He never calls his wife her real name, "Elizabeth," but
only such pet names as "honey," "honey bunch," "sweetheart," and
"sugar."/
[petard] See: HOIST WITH ONE'S OWN PETARD.
[Peter] See: ROB PETER TO PAY PAUL.
[peter out] {v.}, {informal} To fail or die down gradually; grow
less; become exhausted. * /After the factory closed, the town pretty
well petered out./ * /The mine once had a rich vein of silver, but it
petered out./ * /But as he thought of her, his anger slowly petered
out./ Compare: GIVE OUT.
[photo finish] {n. phr.} A close finish in a race of people or
animals, where the camera must decide the actual result, sometimes by
millimeters. * /The black horse was declared the winner in a photo
finish./
[pick] See: BONE TO PICK or CROW TO PICK.
[pick a bone] See: BONE TO PICK.
[pick a fight] See: PICK A QUARREL.
[pick a hole in] or [pick holes in] {v. phr.}, {informal} To find a
mistake in or things wrong with; criticize; blame. * /The witness said
he had been walking in the moonlight last Sunday, but the lawyer
picked a hole in what he said by proving that there was no moon and
that it rained Sunday night./ * /Mary is always picking holes in what
the other girls do./ Compare: FIND FAULT.
[pick and choose] {v.} To select with much care; choose in a fussy
way; take a long time before choosing. * /He was never one to pick and
choose./ * /Some people pick and choose to get something perfect, and
some just because they can't make up their minds./
[pick apart] or [pick to pieces] {v. phr.} To criticize harshly;
find things wrong with; find fault with. * /After the dance, the girls
picked Susan apart./ * /They picked the play to pieces./
[pick a pocket] {v. phr.} To steal by removing from the pocket of
another. * /While in the train, somebody picked his pocket and took
the last dollar he had./
[pick a/the lock] {v. phr.} To burglarize; open illegally; open a
lock without the regular key. * /The robber got into the house by
picking the lock./
[pick a quarrel] {v. phr.} To seek the opportunity for a fight or a
quarrel. * /When Charlie has too much to drink, he has a tendency to
pick a quarrel with whomever happens to be around./ See: PICK A FIGHT.
[pick at] {v.} 1. To reach or grasp for repeatedly. * /The baby
kept picking at the coverlet./ 2. To eat without appetite; choose a
small piece every little while to eat. * /He picked at his food./ 3.
To annoy or bother continually; find fault with. * /They showed their
displeasure by continually picking at her./ Syn.: PICK ON.
[pick holes in] {v. phr.} To criticize or find fault with
something, such as a speech, a statement, a theory, etc. * /It is
easier to pick holes in someone else's argument than to make a good
one yourself./
[pick-me-up] {n. phr.} Something you take when you feel tired or
weak. * /John stopped at a drugstore for a pick-me-up after working
three hours overtime./ * /Mary always carried a bar of chocolate in
her pocketbook for a pick-me-up./
[pickpocket] {n.} A thief; a petty criminal who steals things and
money out of people's pockets on a bus, train, etc. * /In some big
cities many poor children become pickpockets out of poverty./
[pick off] {v.} 1. To pull off; remove with the fingers. * /He
picked off the burs that had stuck to his overcoat./ 2. To shoot, one
at a time; knock down one by one. * /The sniper picked off the slower
soldiers as they came out into the road./ 3. To catch a base runner
off base by throwing the ball quickly to a fielder who tags him out. *
/The pitcher turned around suddenly and threw to the second baseman to
pick the runner off second base./ Compare: OFF BASE. 4. To catch and,
especially in football, to intercept. * /Alert defenders picked off
three of Jack's passes./
[pick on] {v.} 1. {informal} To make a habit of annoying or
bothering (someone); do or say bad things to (someone). * /Other boys
picked on him until he decided to fight them./ Syn.: PICK AT(3). 2. To
single out; choose; select. * /He visited a lot of colleges, and
finally picked on Stanford./
[pick one's teeth] {v. phr.} To clean one's teeth with a toothpick.
* /It is considered poor manners to pick one's teeth in public./
[pick one's way] {v. phr.} To go ahead carefully in difficult or
unfamiliar places; advance with care. * /After nightfall we drove
slowly along, picking our way until we found the right turn./ * /He
picked his way across the rough and rocky hillside./
[pick out] {v.} 1. To choose. * /It took Mary a long time to pick
out a dress at the store./ 2. To see among others; recognize; tell
from others. * /We could pick out different places in the city from
the airplane./ * /We could not pick Bob out in the big crowd./ Syn.:
MAKE OUT(2). 3. To find by examining or trying; tell the meaning. *
/The box was so dirty we couldn't pick out the directions on the
label./ Compare: FIND OUT.
[pick over] {v.} To select the best of; look at and take what is
good from; choose from. * /She picked the apples over and threw out
the bad ones./ * /We hurried to the big sale, but we were late and
everything had already been picked over./
[pick the brains of] {v. phr.} To get ideas or information about a
particular subject by asking an expert. * /If you have time, I'd like
to pick your brains about home computers./
[pick to pieces] See: PICK APART, PICK HOLES IN.
[pickup] {n.}, (stress on "pick") 1. A rugged, small truck. * /When
he got into the lumber business, Max traded in his comfortable
two-door sedan for a pickup./ 2. Scheduled meeting in order to
transfer merchandise or stolen goods. * /The pickup goes down at 7
A.M. every day by the loading dock./ * /The dope pushers usually make
their pickup on Rush Street./ 3. A person who is easy to persuade to
go home with the suitor. * /Sue is said to be an easy pickup./
[pick up] {v.} 1. To take up; lift. * /During the morning Mrs.
Carter picked up sticks in the yard./ 2. {informal} To pay for someone
else. * /After lunch, in the restaurant, Uncle Bob picked up the
check./ 3. To take on or away; receive; get. * /At the next corner the
bus stopped and picked up three people./ 4. To get from different
places at different times; a little at a time; collect. * /He had
picked up rare coins in seaports all over the world./ 5. To get
without trying; get accidentally. * /He picked up knowledge of radio
just by staying around the radio station./ * /Billy picked up a cold
at school./ 6a. To gather together; collect. * /When the carpenter
finished making the cabinet, he began picking up his tools./ 6b. To
make neat and tidy; tidy up; put in order. * /Pick up your room before
Mother sees it./ 6c. To gather things together; tidy a place up. *
/It's almost dinner time, children. Time to pick up and get ready./ 7.
To catch the sound of. * /He picked up Chicago on the radio./ 8. To
get acquainted with (someone) without an introduction; make friends
with (a person of the other sex). * /Mother told Mary not to walk home
by herself from the party because some stranger might try to pick her
up./ 9. {informal} To take to the police station or jail; arrest. *
/Police picked the man up for burglary./ 10. To recognize the trail of
a hunted person or animal; find. * /State police picked up the
bandit's trail./ * /The dogs picked up the fox's smell./ 11. To make
(someone) feel better; refresh. * /A little food will pick you up./
12a. To increase (the speed); make (the speed) faster. * /The teacher
told her singing class to pick up the tempo./ * /The car picked up
speed./ 12b. To become faster; become livelier. * /The speed of the
train began to pick up./ * /After the band practiced for a while, the
music began to pick up./ 13. To start again after interruption; go on
with. * /The class picked up the story where they had left it before
the holiday./ * /They met after five years, and picked up their
friendship as if there had been no interruption./ 14. {informal} To
become better; recover; gain. * /She picked up in her schoolwork./ *
/He picked up gradually after a long illness./ * /His spirits picked
up as he came near home./
[pick up the tab] {v. phr.} To pay the bill in a restaurant; be the
one who underwrites financially what others are doing. * /"I am always
the one who picks up the tab," Charlie complained bitterly. "Others
get away with being freeloaders."/ Compare: FOOT THE BILL.
[Pidgin English] {n. phr.} A jargon that consists of some
mispronounced English words and some foreign words used by Orientals
in talking with Westerners. * /You can conduct a lot of business in
Pidgin English in the Far East./
[pie] See: EAT HUMBLE PIE, FINGER IN THE PIE, PIE IN THE SKY,
SWEETIE PIE.
[piece] See: BY THE PIECE, CONVERSATION PIECE, GIVE A PIECE OF
ONE'S MIND, GO TO PIECES, OF A PIECE, PIECE OF CAKE, SAY ONE'S PIECE
or SPEAK ONE'S PIECE, TO PIECES.
[piece of cake] {adj.}, {slang} Easy. * /The final exam was a piece
of cake./
[piece out] {v.} 1. To put together from many different pieces; put
together from odd parts; patch. * /They pieced out a meal from
leftovers./ * /He pieced out the machine with scrap parts./ * /The
detective pieced out the story from a stray fact here, a clue there,
and a hint somewhere else./ 2. To make larger or longer by adding one
or more pieces. * /The girl grew so fast that her mother had to piece
out her dresses./
[piecework] {n.} Work paid for in accordance with the quantity
produced. * /Al prefers working on a piecework basis to being on a
regular salary because he feels he makes more that way./
[pie in the sky] {n. phr.}, {informal} An unrealistic wish or hope.
* /Our trip to Hawaii is still only a pie in the sky./ Compare: PIPE
DREAM.
[pigeonhole] {v.} 1. To set aside; defer consideration of. * /The
plan was pigeonholed until the next committee meeting./ 2. To
typecast; give a stereotypical characterization to someone. * /It was
unfair of the committee to pigeonhole him as a left-wing
troublemaker./
[pigeonhole] {n.} 1. Small compartment for internal mail in an
office or a department. * /"You can just put your late exam into my
pigeonhole," said Professor Brown to the concerned student./ 2. One of
the small compartments in a desk or cabinet. * /He keeps his cufflinks
in a pigeonhole in his desk./
[piggy-back] {adj.} or {adv.} Sitting or being carried on the
shoulders. * /Little John loved to go for a piggy-back ride on his
father's shoulders./ * /When Mary sprained her ankle, John carried her
piggy-back to the doctor./
[piggy bank] {n.} A small bank, sometimes in the shape of a pig,
for saving coins. * /John's father gave him a piggy bank./
[pigheaded] {adj.} Stubborn; unwilling to compromise. * /"Stop
being so pigheaded!" she cried. "I, too, can be right sometimes!"/
[pig in a poke] {n. phr.} An unseen bargain; something accepted or
bought without looking at it carefully. * /Buying land by mail is
buying a pig in a poke: sometimes the land turns out to be under
water./
[pig out] {v. phr.} 1. To eat a tremendous amount of food. * /"I
always pig out on my birthday," she confessed./ 2. To peruse; have
great fun with; indulge in for a longer period of time. * /"Go to bed
and pig out on a good mystery story," the doctor recommended./
[pile up] {v. phr.} 1. To grow into a big heap. * /He didn't go
into his office for three days and his work kept piling up./ 2. To run
aground. * /Boats often pile up on the rocks in the shallow water./ 3.
To crash. * /One car made a sudden stop and the two cars behind it
piled up./
[pile-up] {n.} 1. A heap; a deposit of one object on top of
another. * /There is a huge pile-up of junked cars in this vacant
lot./ 2. A large number of objects in the same place, said of traffic.
* /I was late because of the traffic pile-up on the highway./
[pill] See: BITTER PILL.
[pillar of society] {n. phr.} A leading figure who contributes to
the support and the well-being of his/her society; a person of
irreproachable character. * /Mrs. Brown, the director of our classical
symphony fund, is a true pillar of society./
[pillar to post] See: FROM PILLAR TO POST.
[pimple] See: GOOSE BUMPS or GOOSE PIMPLES.
[pin] See: ON PINS AND NEEDLES.
[pinch] See: TAKE WITH A GRAIN OF SALT also TAKE WITH A PINCH OF
SALT, WHERE THE SHOE PINCHES.
[pinch and scrape] {v. phr.} To save as much money as possible by
spending as little as possible. * /They are trying to buy their first
house so they are pinching and scraping every penny they can./
[pinch-hit] {v.} 1. To substitute for another player at bat in a
baseball game. * /Smith was sent in to pinch-hit for Jones./ 2.
{informal} To act for a while, or in an emergency, for another person;
take someone's place for a while. * /I asked him to pinch-hit for me
while I was away./ * /The president of the City Council pinch-hits for
the mayor when the mayor is out of town./ - [pinch-hitter] {n.} *
/Jones was hit by a pitched ball and Smith came in as a pinch-hitter./
* /When our teacher was sick, Mrs. Harris was called as a
pinch-hitter./ - [pinch-hitting] {adj.} or {n.} * /Pinch-hitting for
another teacher is a hard job./
[pinch pennies] {v. phr.}, {informal} Not spend a penny more than
necessary; be very saving or thrifty. * /When Tom and Mary were saving
money to buy a house, they had to pinch pennies./ - [penny-pincher]
{n.}, {informal} A stingy or selfish person; miser. * /He spent so
little money that he began to get the name of a penny-pincher./ -
[penny-pinching] {adj.} or {n.}, {informal} * /Bob saved enough money
by penny-pinching to buy a bicycle./
[pin curl] {n.} A curl made with a hair clip or bobby pin. * /Mary
washed her hair and put it up in pin curls./ * /All the girls had
their hair in pin curls to get ready for the party./
[pin down] {v.} 1a. To keep (someone) from moving; make stay in a
place or position; trap. * /Mr. Jones' leg was pinned down under the
car after the accident./ * /The soldier was pinned down in the hole
because rifle bullets were flying over his head./ 1b. To keep
(someone) from changing what (he) says or means; make (someone) admit
the truth; make (someone) agree to something. * /Mary didn't like the
book but I couldn't pin her down to say what she didn't like about
it./ * /I tried to pin Bob down to fix my bicycle tomorrow, but he
wouldn't say that he could./ 2. To tell clearly and exactly; explain
so that there is no doubt. * /The police tried to pin down the blame
for the fire in the school./
[pine away] {v. phr.} To waste away with grief. * /After George was
sent abroad, his wife pined away for him so much that she became ill./
[pink] See: IN THE PINK, TICKLE PINK.
[pink around the gills] See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.
[pin money] {n. phr.} Extra money used for incidentals. * /She has
a regular full-time job but she earns extra pin money by doing a lot
of baby-sitting./
[pin one's ears back] {v. phr.}, {slang} 1. To beat; defeat. *
/After winning three games in a row, the Reds had their ears pinned
back by the Blues./ 2. To scold. * /Mrs. Smith pinned Mary's ears back
for not doing her homework./
[pin one's faith on] {v. phr.} To depend upon; trust. * /We pinned
our faith on our home basketball team to win the state finals, and
they did!/
[pin one's heart on one's sleeve] See: WEAR ONE'S HEART ON ONE'S
SLEEVE.
[pint-size] {adj.}, {informal} Very small. * /The new pint-size,
portable TV sets have a very clear picture./ * /It was funny to hear a
pint-size voice coming out of a great big man./
[pinup girl] {v. phr.} An attractive girl whose picture is pinned
or tacked to the wall by an admirer. * /Some Hollywood actresses are
understandably very popular pinup girls among male soldiers./
[pipe] See: PUT THAT IN YOUR PIPE AND SMOKE IT.
[pipe down] {v.} 1. To call (sailors) away from work with a
whistle. * /He piped the men down after boat drill./ 2. {slang} To
stop talking; shut up; be quiet. * /"Oh, pipe down," he called./ -
Often considered rude.
[pipe dream] {n.}, {informal} An unrealizable, financially unsound,
wishful way of thinking; an unrealistic plan. * /Joe went through the
motions of pretending that he wanted to buy that $250,000 house, but
his wife candidly told the real estate lady that it was just a pipe
dream./ Compare: PIE IN THE SKY.
[piper] See: PAY THE PIPER.
[pipe up] {v.}, {informal} To speak up; to be heard. * /Mary is so
shy, everyone was surprised when she piped up with a complaint at the
club meeting./ * /Everyone was afraid to talk to the police, but a
small child piped up./
[pip-squeak] {n.}, {informal} A small, unimportant person. * /If
the club is really democratic, then every little pip-squeak has the
right to say what he thinks./ * /When the smallest boy was chosen to
be the monitor, the class bully said he would not obey a little
pip-squeak./
[piss off] {v.}, {slang}, {vulgar}, {avoidable} To bother; annoy;
irritate. * /You really piss me off when you talk like that./ -
[pissed off] {adj.} * /Why act so pissed off just because I made a
pass at you?/
[pit against] {v.} To match against; oppose to; put in opposition
to; place in competition or rivalry with. * /The game pits two of the
best pro football teams in the East against each other./ * /He pitted
his endurance against the other man's speed./ * /He was pitted against
an opponent just as smart as he was./
[pit-a-pat] {adv.} With a series of quick pats. * /When John asked
Mary to marry him, her heart went pit-a-pat./ * /The little boy ran
pit-a-pat down the hall./
[pitch] See: WILD PITCH.
[pitch a curve] or [a curve ball] {v. phr.} To catch someone
unawares; confront someone with an unexpected event or act. * /My
professor pitched me a curve ball when he unexpectedly confronted me
with a complicated mathematical equation that was way over my head./
[pitch dark] {adj.} Totally, completely dark. * /A starless and
moonless night in the country can be pitch dark./
[pitcher] See: LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS, RELIEF PITCHER,
STARTING PITCHER.
[pitchfork] See: RAIN CATS AND DOGS or RAIN PITCHFORKS.
[pitch in] {v.}, {informal} 1. To begin something with much energy;
start work eagerly. * /Pitch in and we will finish the job as soon as
possible./ 2. To give help or money for something; contribute. *
/Everyone must pitch in and work together./ * /We all pitched in a
quarter to buy Nancy a present./ Syn.: CHIP IN. Compare: FALL TO.
[pitch into] {v.}, {informal} 1. To attack with blows or words. *
/He pitched into me with his fists./ * /He pitched into the idea of
raising taxes./ Syn.: LAY INTO(1),(2), RIP INTO. 2. To get to work at;
work hard at. * /She pitched into the work and had the house cleaned
up by noon./ * /He pitched into his homework right after dinner./
Compare: LAY INTO, SAIL INTO.
[pitch out] {v.} 1. To deliberately throw a pitch outside of the
home plate in baseball so that the batter cannot hit the ball and the
catcher can make a quick throw. * /The catcher wanted the pitcher to
pitch out and see if they could catch the runner stealing./ 2. To toss
the ball easily to a football back. * /The quarterback faked to the
fullback and pitched out to the halfback going wide./
[pitch woo] {v. phr.}, {slang} To kiss and hug; make love. * /Mary
and John pitched woo in the movies./ * /While Bob drove, Betty and Jim
sat in the back pitching woo./
[pity] See: TAKE PITY ON or TAKE PITY UPON.
[place] See: HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE, HIGH PLACE, IN PLACE,
INSTEAD OF or IN PLACE OF, IN THE FIRST PLACE, JUMPING-OFF PLACE,
LIGHTNING NEVER STRIKES TWICE IN THE SAME PLACE, OUT OF PLACE, PUT IN
ONE'S PLACE, PUT ONESELF IN ANOTHER'S PLACE, TAKE PLACE.
[plague on both your houses] or [plague o' both your houses] Bad
luck to both of you! - Used to show disgust at those who wont stop
quarreling. * /The bus drivers went on strike because the bus company
would not raise their pay. After several weeks, the people who needed
to ride the bus to work said, "A plague on both your houses."/
[plain Jane] {n. phr.} A common or simple looking young woman or
girl. * /When we were in school, Ann was a plain Jane, but she
blossomed out and even won the title of Miss Indiana./
[plain] or [smooth sailing] {n. phr.} An uncomplicated, unhampered,
or easy course. * /For a graduate of such a famous university as he
was, that assignment was plain sailing./
[plain white wrapper] {n.}, {slang}, {citizen's band radio jargon}
Unmarked police car. * /There's a plain white wrapper at your rear
door!/ See: BROWN PAPER BAG.
[plan] See: LAY AWAY PLAN.
[plank] See: WALK THE PLANK.
[plan on] {v.} 1. To have the plan of; have in mind. - Used with a
verbal noun. * /I plan on going to the movies after I finish my
homework./ * /Mary was planning on seeing John at the baseball game./
Syn.: FIGURE ON. 2. To think you will do or have; be sure about;
expect. * /I'm hoping to go away for the weekend, but I'm not planning
on it./ * /We can't order the food for the party until we know how
many people to plan on./ * /We planned on Mary for the decorations,
but she is sick./
[plate] See: HOME PLATE.
[platonic love] {n. phr.} Great affection toward another person
without sex. * /They are platonic lovers; they do everything together
except make love./
[platter] See: HAND SOMETHING TO ONE ON A SILVER PLATTER.
[play] See: ALL WORK AND NO PLAY MAKES JACK A DULL BOY, DOUBLE
PLAY, FAIR PLAY, FORCE PLAY, GAME AT WHICH TWO CAN PLAY, MAKE A PLAY
FOR, TURN ABOUT IS FAIR PLAY.
[play along (with)] {v.} Cooperate; make no trouble. * /The honest
jockey refused to play along with the bookmaker's illegal plan./
[play a part in] {v. phr.} To be instrumental in; have a role in;
be concerned with. * /Some First Ladies play a greater part in
political life than others./
[play around] See: FOOL AROUND.
[play around with] See: TOY WITH.
[play a waiting game] {v. phr.} To withhold action until one's
chances for success improve. * /Ray would like to be vice president of
the company so he is playing a waiting game in the hope that the
president will soon recognize his abilities./
[play ball] {v. phr.} 1. To begin play in a ball game. * /When the
umpire calls "Play ball," the game begins./ 2. {informal} To join in
an effort with others; cooperate. * /To get along during Prohibition,
many men felt that they had to play ball with gangsters./ * /A is
often good business to play ball with a political machine./
[play by ear] {v. phr.} 1. To play a musical instrument by
remembering the tune, not by reading music. * /Mary does not know how
to read music. She plays the piano by ear./ * /Joe doesn't need any
music sheets when he plays his guitar; he knows many songs well and
can play them by ear./ 2. {informal} To decide what to do as you go
along; to fit the situation. - Used with "it". * /John decided to play
it by ear when he went for his interview./ * /It was her first job and
she didn't know what to expect, so we had to play it by ear./
[play cat and mouse with] {v. phr.} To tease or fool (someone) by
pretending to let him go free and then catching him again. * /Joe's
uncle had fun playing cat and mouse with him./ * /The policeman
decided to play cat and mouse when he saw the woman steal the dress in
the store./
[play down] {v.} To give less emphasis to; make (something) seem
less important; divert attention from; draw notice away from. * /The
newspaper stories played down the actor's unattractive past./ * /A
salesman's job is to emphasize the good points of his merchandise; he
must play down any faults it has./
[played out] {adj. phr.} Tired out; worn out; finished; exhausted.
* /It had been a hard day, and by night he was played out./ * /For a
while, at least, it seemed the interest in great speed was played
out./ Compare: ALL IN.
[play fair] {v. phr.} To do what is right to others; act in a fair
and truthful way. * /The boys like the principal because he always
plays fair./ * /Mary would not date any other boys while Jim, her
favorite boyfriend, was away; she said that would not be playing
fair./
[play fast and loose] {v. phr.} To do as you please without caring
what will happen to other people; act so carelessly or unfairly that
people cannot depend on you; be very unreliable. * /He played fast and
loose with the girl's affections./ * /He played fast and loose with
the company's good name./
[play footsie] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. Touch the feet of
a member of the opposite sex under the table as an act of flirtation.
* /Have you at least played footsie with her?/ 2. To engage in any
sort of flirtation or collaboration, especially in a political
situation. * /The mayor was suspected of playing footsie with the
Syndicate./
[play for keeps] {v. phr.} To take an action of finality and
irreversibility. * /"Are you serious about me?" she asked. "Yes," he
replied. "I want to marry you. I play for keeps."/
[play hard to get] {v. phr.} To act as if one weren't interested;
be fickle; be coy. * /"Professor Brown is playing very hard to get,"
our dean said, "but I know he will accept our offer and come to teach
here."/
[play havoc with] or [raise havoc with] {v. phr.} To cause
destruction; ruin; injure badly. * /The storm played havoc with the
apple orchard./ * /When Ralph was arrested for stealing the car, it
played havoc with his plans for going to college./ * /When Mr. White
poisoned the cat, it played havoc with his reputation in the
neighborhood./
[play hooky] {v. phr.}, {informal} To stay out of school to play. *
/Carl is failing in school because he has played hooky so many times
during the year./
[play into one's hands] {v. phr.} To be or do something that
another person can use against you; help an opponent against yourself.
* /In the basketball game, Jerry's foul played into the opponents'
hands./ * /Mary and Bobby both wanted the last piece of cake, but
Bobby played into Mary's hands by trying to grab it./
[play off] {v.} 1. To match opposing persons, forces, or interests
so that they balance each other. * /The girl played off her admirers
against each other./ * /Britain tried to play off European nations
against each other so that she would have a balance of power./ 2. To
finish the playing of (an interrupted contest.) * /The visitors came
back the next Saturday to play off the game stopped by rain./ 3. To
settle (a tie score) between contestants by more play. /When each
player had won two matches, the championship was decided by playing
off the tie./
[play on] or [play upon] {v.} 1. To cause an effect on; influence.
* /A heavy diet of television drama played on his feelings./ 2. To
work upon for a planned effect; excite to a desired action by cunning
plans; manage. * /The makeup salesman played on the woman's wish to
look beautiful./ * /In some places, leaders play upon people's
superstitious fears./ * /He played on the man's ambition and love of
honor./
[play one false] {v. phr.}, {literary} To act disloyally toward (a
person); betray; cheat; deceive. * /Good faith was not in him: he
played anyone false who trusted him./ * /His hopes had played him
false./
[play one for] {v.}, {informal} To treat (someone) as; act toward
(someone) as; handle (someone) as; handle as. * /He played the man for
a sucker./
[play one's cards right] or [play one's cards well] {v. phr.},
{informal} To use abilities and opportunities so as to be successful;
act cleverly; make the best use of your place or skills. * /That
millionaire started with very little but showed a skill in playing his
cards right./ * /People liked Harold, and he played his cards well -
and soon he began to get ahead rapidly./
[play ostrich] {v. phr.} To refuse to face painful facts or
unpleasant truths. * /She plays ostrich when it comes to her husband's
drinking problem./
[play politics] {v. phr.} To make secret agreements for your own
gain; handle different groups for your own advantage. * /In order to
get elected, he had to play politics with both the unions and the
bosses./ * /Mary always gets what she wants by playing office
politics./
[play possum] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To pretend to be asleep. *
/Johnny seemed to be fully asleep, but his mother knew that he was
playing possum./ 2. To stay quiet for self-protection; try to escape
attention by inactivity. * /The rabbit played possum under the bushes,
hoping the hunter would not see him./ * /Bob played possum when the
teacher looked around./
[play safe] or [play it safe] {v. phr.}, {informal} To be very
careful; accept small gains or none to avoid loss; avoid danger for
the sake of safety. * /He got tired as the game went on, and began to
play safe./ * /Tom didn't know what the other driver would do, so he
played it safe and stopped his own car./
[play second fiddle] {v. phr.}, {informal} To act a smaller part;
follow another's lead; be less noticed. * /His wife had the stronger
mind and he played second fiddle to her./ * /During the tournament,
lessons played second fiddle to basketball./
[play the devil with] or [play hob with] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
cause confusion in; upset. * /Uncle Bob's unexpected visit played the
devil with our own plans to travel./ * /Mother's illness played hob
with our party./
[play the field] {v. phr.}, {informal} To date many different
people; not always have dates with the same person. * /Al had a steady
girlfriend, but John was playing the field./ * /Jim was crazy about
Mary, but she was still playing the field./ Contrast: GO STEADY.
[play the game] {v. phr.}, {informal} To obey the rules; do right;
act fairly. * /"That's not playing the game," we told him when he
wanted to desert his wife./ * /"Oh, let's play the game," he said,
when his partner suggested a way to keep from paying some of their
debts./ * /Your parents want you to play the game in life./
[play the market] {v. phr.} To try to make money on the stock
market by buying and selling stocks, * /John lost all his savings
playing the market./ * /Sometimes Mr. Smith makes a lot of money when
he plays the market, and sometimes he loses./
[play to the gallery] {v. phr.} To try to get the approval of the
audience. * /Whenever John recites in class he seems to be playing to
the gallery./ * /The lawyer for the defense was more interested in
playing to the gallery than in winning the case./ Compare: SHOW OFF.
[play tricks on] {v. phr.} To make another the victim of some trick
or joke. * /Al got angry when his classmates played a trick on him by
hiding his clothes while he was swimming./
[play up] {v.} To call attention to; talk more about; emphasize. *
/The coach played up the possibilities, and kept our minds off our
weaknesses./ * /The director played up the woman's glamor to conceal
her lack of acting ability./
[play upon] See: PLAY ON.
[play up to] {v. phr.}. {slang} 1. To try to gain the favor of,
especially for selfish reasons; act to win the approval of; try to
please. * /He played up to the boss./ 2. To use (something) to gain an
end; to attend to (a weakness). * /He played up to the old lady's
vanity to get her support./
[play with fire] {v. phr.} To put oneself in danger; to take risks.
* /Leaving your door unlocked in New York City is playing with fire./
* /The doctor told Mr. Smith that he must watch his diet if he doesn't
want to play with fire./ Compare: SKATE ON THIN ICE.
[plough] or [plow through] {v. phr.} Pass through laboriously. *
/Saw had to plough through hundreds of pages of American history to
get ready for his test./
[plow] See: PUT ONE'S HAND TO THE PLOW.
[plow into] {v.} 1. To attack vigorously. * /He plowed into his
work and finished it in a few hours./ 2. To crash into with force. *
/A truck plowed into my car and smashed the fender./
[pluck up] {v.} 1. To have (courage) by your own effort; make
yourself have (courage). * /In spite of failure, he plucked up heart
to continue./ * /He plucked up courage when he saw a glimmer of hope./
2. To become happier; feel better; cheer up. * /He plucked up when his
wife recovered./
[pluck up one's courage] See: SCREW UP ONE'S COURAGE.
[plug away] See: PEG AWAY.
[plug in] {v. phr.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by putting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /The integrated
circuit has multiplied the number of small radios that need not be
plugged in./
[plug into] {v.} To connect (an electrical appliance) to a power
wire by inserting its plug into a receptacle or hole. * /He thought he
had left the lamp plugged into the wall, and so was puzzled when it
wouldn't light that night./
[plume oneself] {v. phr.}, {literary} To be proud of yourself;
boast. * /He plumed himself on having the belle of the ball as his
date./ * /He plumed himself on his successful planning in the
election./ * /She plumed herself on the grace with which she sat on a
horse./ Compare: PRIDE ONESELF.
[plunk down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To drop down; fall. * /After
walking a mile we plunked down on a bench to rest./ 2. To drop
something noisily or firmly. * /He plunked the heavy suitcase down at
the station./ 3. To pay out, primarily an excessive amount * /I had to
plunk down $55 for a concert ticket./
[please] See: AS YOU PLEASE.
[pocket] See: BURN A HOLE IN ONE'S POCKET, LINE ONE'S POCKETS.
[pocket money] See: SPENDING MONEY.
[pocket one's pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[point] See: AT SWORDS' POINTS, AT THE POINT OF, BESIDE THE POINT,
BOILING POINT, CASE IN POINT, COME TO THE POINT, EXTRA POINT, MAKE A
POINT, ON THE POINT OF, SORE SPOT or SORE POINT, STRETCH A POINT or
STRAIN A POINT, TALKING POINT.
[point-blank] {adv.} Straightforwardly; bluntly; directly. * /Sue
refused point-blank to discuss marriage with Sam./
[point of view] {n.} Attitude; opinion. * /From the American point
of view, Fidel Castro is a bad neighbor to have./
[point out] {v.} 1. To show by pointing with the finger; point to;
make clear the location of. * /The guide pointed out the principal
sights of the city./ 2. To bring to notice; call to attention;
explain. * /The policeman pointed out that the law forbids public sale
of firecrackers./ * /The school secretary pointed out that the closing
date for making applications had passed./
[point up] {v.} To show clearly; emphasize. * /The increase in
crime points up the need for greater police protection./ * /Johnny's
report card points up his talent for math./
[poison-pen] {adj.} Containing threats or false accusations;
written in spite or to get revenge, and usually unsigned. * /Mrs.
Smith received a poison-pen letter telling her that her husband was
untrue./ * /To get revenge on Mary, Alice wrote a poison-pen letter to
the teacher and signed Mary's name to it./
[poke] See: PIG IN A POKE, TAKE A PUNCH AT or TAKE A POKE AT.
[poke around] or [poke about] {v.} 1. To search about; look into
and under things. * /The detective poked around in the missing man's
office./ 2. To move slowly or aimlessly; do little things. * /He
didn't feel well, and poked around the house./
[poke fun at] See: MAKE FUN OF.
[poles apart] {adj.} Completely different. * /The two brothers were
poles apart in personality./ * / It was hard for the members to make
any decisions because their ideas were poles apart./
[polish off] {v.}, {informal} 1. To defeat easily. * /The Dodgers
polished off the Yankees in four straight games in the 1963 World
Series./ 2. To finish completely; finish doing quickly, often in order
to do something else. * /The boys were hungry and polished off a big
steak./ * /Mary polished off her homework early so that she could
watch TV./
[polish the apple] {v. phr.}, {slang} To try to make someone like
you; to try to win favor by flattery. * /Mary polished the apple at
work because she wanted a day off./ * /Susan is the teacher's pet
because she always polishes the apple./ - [apple polisher] {n.},
{slang} A person who is nice to the one in charge in order to be liked
or treated better; a person who does favors for a superior. * /Jane is
an apple polisher. She is always helping the teacher and talking to
him./ * /Joe is an apple-polisher. He will do anything for the boss./
Compare: EAGER BEAVER, YES-MAN. - [apple polishing] {n.}, {slang}
Trying to win someone's good-will by small acts currying favor; the
behavior of an apple polisher. * /When John I brought his teacher
flowers, everyone thought he was apple polishing./
[politics] See: PLAY POLITICS.
[pond] See: LITTLE FROG IN A BIG POND.
[pool] See: CAR POOL.
[pooped out] {adj.}, {slang} Worn out; exhausted. * /Everyone was
pooped out after the hike./ * /The heat made them feel pooped out./
[poor as a church mouse] {adj. phr.}, {informal} Penniless; broke;
extremely poor. * /The newly arrived boat people were poor as church
mice./
[poor-mouth] {v.} To be constantly complaining about one's poverty;
keep saying how one cannot afford the better things in life. * /Uncle
Jack indulges in an awful lot of poor-mouthing, but we know that he
has half a million dollars stashed away in a secret savings account./
[pop] See: EYES POP OUT.
[pop fly] {n.} A baseball batted high into the air but not very far
from the plate. * /The batter hit a pop fly to the shortstop./
[pop in] {v. phr.} To suddenly appear without announcement. *
/"Just pop into my office any time you're on campus," Professor Brown
said./
[pop one's cork] See: BLOW A FUSE, FLY OFF THE HANDLE, LOSE ONE'S
MARBLES, LOSE ONE'S TEMPER.
[pop the question] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask someone to marry you.
* /After the dance he popped the question./ * /A man is often too
bashful to pop the question./
[popup] {v.} 1. or [bob up] To appear suddenly or unexpectedly;
show up; come out. * /Just when the coach thought he had everything
under control, a new problem bobbed up./ * /After no one had heard
from him for years, John popped up in town again./ 2. To hit a pop fly
in baseball. * /Jim popped the pitch up./
[pork] See: SALT PORK.
[port of call] {n. phr.} 1. Any of the ports that a ship visits
after the start of a voyage and before the end; a port where
passengers or cargo may be taken on or put off; an in-between port. *
/Savannah is a port of call for many Atlantic coasting vessels./ 2. A
place you visit regularly or often; a stop included on your usual way
of going. * /It was an obscure little restaurant which I had made
something of a port of call./ * /His home had become one of my regular
ports of call in Boston./
[port of entry] {n. phr.} 1. A port where things brought into the
country to sell may pass through customs. * /Other ports of entry have
been taking business from New York./ 2. A port where a citizen of
another country may legally enter a country; a port having passport
and immigration facilities. * /Airports have joined seaports as ports
of entry for the visiting foreigner./
[position] See: SCORING POSITION.
[possessed of] {adj. phr.}, {formal} In possession of; having;
owning. * /He was possessed of great wealth./ * /He was possessed of
great self-confidence./
[possum] See: PLAY POSSUM.
[post] See: PROM PILLAR TO POST.
[pot] See: GO TO POT.
[potato] See: HOT POTATO.
[potboiler] {n.} A book, play, or film written for the primary
purpose of earning money for the author. * /"Reading a cheap potboiler
helps me go to sleep," the professor wryly remarked./
[pot call the kettle black] {informal} The person who is
criticizing someone else is as guilty as the person he accuses; the
charge is as true of the person who makes it as of the one he makes it
against. * /When the commissioner accused the road builder of bribery,
the contractor said the pot was calling the kettle black./ * /Bill
said John was cheating at a game but John replied that the pot was
calling the kettle black./
[potluck] See: TAKE POTLUCK.
[potluck supper] See: COVERED-DISH SUPPER.
[potshot] {n.} A direct shot at an easy, stationary target from
behind a protected position or camouflage; criticism. * /Modern
journalists like to take potshots at the president of the United
States./
[pound] See: PENNY WISE AND POUND FOOLISH.
[pound away at] {v. phr.} 1. To attack; criticize. * /In his
campaign speeches the candidate kept pounding away at the
administration's foreign policy./ 2. To work industriously. * /Mike
was pounding away at the foundation of his new house with shovels and
pickaxes./
[pound of flesh] {n. phr.}, {literary} The maximum payment
authorized by law. * /He had hoped that Peter would be lenient
regarding the interest they had agreed on, but Peter demanded his full
pound of flesh./
[pound out] {v. phr.} 1. To play a piece of music very loudly on a
percussion instrument. * /The boy was pounding out the tune "Mary had
a little lamb" on the marimba./ 2. To flatten something with a hammer.
* /The bodyshop uses special hammers to pound out the indentations in
the bodies of cars./ 3. To produce a piece of writing on a typewriter
in haste and without much care. * /She hurriedly pounded out a letter
of recommendation for the foreign graduate student./
[pound the pavement] {v. phr.}, {informal} To walk up and down the
streets; tramp about. * /John pounded the pavement looking for a job./
* /Mary and Bill pounded the pavement to find an apartment./
[pour] See: IT NEVER RAINS BUT IT POURS.
[pour cold water on] See: THROW COLD WATER ON.
[pour it on thick] See: LAY IT ON THICK.
[pour money down the drain] {v. phr.} To spend one's money
unwisely; to waste one's funds. * /"Stop supporting Harry's drug
habit," Ralph said. "You're just pouring money down the drain."./
[pour oil on troubled waters] {v. phr.} To quiet a quarrel; say
something to lessen anger and bring peace. * /The troops were nearing
a bitter quarrel until the leader poured oil on the troubled waters./
[pour out] {v.} 1. To tell everything about; talk all about. *
/Mary poured out her troubles to her pal./ 2. To come out in great
quantity; stream out. * /The people poured out of the building when
they heard the fire alarm./
[powder] See: TAKE A POWDER.
[powder room] {n.} The ladies' rest room. * /When they got to the
restaurant, Mary went to the powder room to wash up./
[power behind the throne] {n. phr.} The person with the real power
backing up the more visible partner (usually said about the wives of
public figures). * /It is rumored that the First Lady it the power
behind the throne in the White House./
[practice] See: IN PRACTICE also INTO PRACTICE, MAKE A PRACTICE OF,
OUT OF PRACTICE.
[presence of mind] {n. phr.} Effective and quick decision-making
ability in times of crisis. * /When Jimmy fell into the river, his
father had the presence of mind to dive in after him and save him from
drowning./
[present] See: AT PRESENT.
[press box] {n.} The place or room high in a sports stadium that is
for newspaper men and radio and television announcers. * /In baseball
the official scorer sits in the press box./
[press conference] {n. phr.} A meeting with news reporters. * /The
reporters questioned the president about foreign affairs at the press
conference./ * /The press conference with the senator was broadcast on
television./
[press one's luck] or [push one's luck] {v. phr.} To depend too
much on luck; expect to continue to be lucky. * /When John won his
first two bets at the race track, he pressed his luck and increased
his bets./ * /If you're lucky at first, don't press your luck./
[press the flesh] {v.}, {slang} To shake hands with total strangers
by the hundreds, keeping an artificial smile all the way, in order to
raise one's popularity during political elections. * /Incumbent
Governor Maxwell was pressing the flesh all day long at six different
hotels./ Compare: BABY KISSER.
[pressure group] {n. phr.} An organization whose goal it is to
create changes by lobbying for the benefit of its own members. *
/Certain unscrupulous pressure groups stop at nothing to achieve their
selfish aims./
[pretty] See: SITTING PRETTY.
[pretty kettle of fish] See: KETTLE OF FISH.
[pretty penny] {n. phr.} A large amount of money. * /Their new
house is so big and modern that we're sure it must have cost them a
pretty penny./
[prevail upon] or [prevail on] {v.} To bring to an act or belief;
cause a change in; persuade. * /He prevailed upon the musician to
entertain instead of the absent speaker./ * /He prevailed upon me to
believe in his innocence./
[prey on] or [prey upon] {v.} 1. To habitually kill and eat; catch
for food. * /Cats prey on mice./ 2. To capture or take in spoils of
war or robbery. * /Pirates preyed on American ships in the years just
after the Revolutionary War./ 3. To cheat; rob. * /Gangsters preyed on
businesses of many kinds while the sale of liquor was prohibited./ 4.
To have a tiring and weakening effect on; weaken. * /Ill health had
preyed on him for years./ * /Business worries preyed on his mind./
[prey on one's mind] {v. phr.} To afflict; worry. * /He couldn't
sleep because his many debts were preying on his mind./
[price on one's head] {n. phr.} Reward offered to anyone who
catches a thief or a murderer. * /The hotel manager learned that the
quiet man taken from his room by the police was a murderer with a
price on his head./
[prick] See: KICK AGAINST THE PRICKS.
[prick up one's ears] {v. phr.}, {informal} To come to interested
attention; begin to listen closely; try to hear. * /The woman pricked
up her ears when she heard them talking about her./
[pride] See: SWALLOW ONE'S PRIDE.
[pride must take a pinch] One must endure the minor pains and
hardships one encounters while being made pretty. - A proverb. *
/"Mother," Sue cried, "stop pulling my hair!" "Just a moment, young
lady," the mother answered, while combing her hair. "Don't you know
that pride must take a pinch?"/
[pride oneself on] {v. phr.} To be proud ot, take satisfaction in;
be much pleased by. * /She prided herself on her beauty./ * /He prided
himself on his strength and toughness./ Compare: PLUME ONESELF.
[print] See: FINE PRINT, IN PRINT, OUT OF PRINT.
[private] See: IN PRIVATE.
[private eye] {n.}, {colloquial} A private investigator; a
detective. * /Buddy Ebsen played a private eye on "Bamaby Jones."/
[progress] See: IN PROGRESS.
[promise] See: AS GOOD AS ONE'S WORD, LICK AND A PROMISE.
[promise the moon] {v. phr.} To promise something impossible. * /A
politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters'
respect./ * /I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I
can./ Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.
[proof of the pudding is in the eating] Only through actual
experience can the value of something be tested. - A proverb. * /He
was intrigued by the ads about the new high mileage sports cars.
"Drive one, sir," the salesman said. "The proof of the pudding is in
the eating."/
[prune] See: FULL OF BEANS or FULL OF PRUNES.
[psyched up] {adj.}, {informal} Mentally alert; ready to do
something. * /The students were all psyched up for their final exams./
[psych out] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} 1. To find out the real
motives of (someone). * /Sue sure has got Joe psyched out./ 2. To go
berserk; to lose one's nerve. * /Joe says he doesn't ride his
motorcycle on the highway anymore because he's psyched out./ * /Jim
psyched out and robbed a liquor store, when he has all he needs and
wants!/
[Public] See: JOHN Q. PUBLIC.
[public] See: AIR ONE'S DIRTY LINEN IN PUBLIC or WASH ONE'S DIRTY
LINEN IN PUBLIC, IN PUBLIC, IN THE PUBLIC EYE.
[public-address system] {n.} A set of devices for making a
speaker's voice louder so that he can be heard by more people. * /The
public-address system broke down during the senator's speech./ * /The
news was announced over the public-address system./
[public enemy] {n. phr.} A famous criminal. * /Al Capone of Chicago
used to be Public Enemy Number One during prohibition./
[public speaker] {n.} A person who speaks to the public. * /A
public speaker must appeal to all kinds of people./
[puffed up] {adj.} Elated; proud; conceited. * /Just because Bob
inherited some money from his father is no reason for him to act so
puffed up./
[pull] See: LONG HAUL or LONG PULL.
[pull a fast one] {v. phr.} To gain the advantage over one's
opponent unfairly; deceive; trick. * /When Smith was told by his boss
that he might be fired, he called the company president, his
father-in-law, and pulled a fast one by having his boss demoted./
[pull a long face] See: LONG FACE.
[pull date] {n.}, {informal} The date stamped on baked goods, dairy
products, or other perishable foods indicating the last day on which
they may be sold before they must be removed from the shelves in a
retail store. * /This pie is way past the pull date - small wonder
it's rotten./
[pull down] {v.}, {informal} 1. To catch (a ball) after a hard run.
* /The outfielder pulled down a long drive to center field./ 2. To
earn. * /Mr. Blake pulls down $500 a week./ * /John pulled down an A
in algebra by studying hard./ Compare: HAUL DOWN.
[pull down about one's ears] or [pull down around one's ears] See:
ABOUT ONE'S EARS.
[pull in] See: HAUL IN.
[pull in one's horns] or [draw in one's horns] {v. phr.},
{informal} 1. To reduce your boasts; calm down from a quarrel; back
down on a promise. * /He said he could beat any man there
single-handed, but he pulled in his horns when Jack came forward./ 2.
To cut back from one's usual way of living; reduce spending or
activities; save. * /After the business failed, Father had to pull in
his horns./ * /As one advances in years, it is prudent to pull in
one's horns more and more as to physical activity./
[pull off] {v.}, {informal} To succeed in (something thought
difficult or impossible); do. * /Ben Hogan pulled off the impossible
by winning three golf tournaments in one year./ * /The bandits pulled
off a daring bank robbery./ Compare: PUT ACROSS(2).
[pull one's chestnuts out of the fire] To do someone else a great
favor which they don't really deserve, doing oneself a disfavor in the
process. * /Small countries often have to pull the chestnuts out of
the fire for their more powerful neighbors./
[pull oneself together] {v. phr.} To become calm after being
excited or disturbed; recover self-command; control yourself. * /It
had been a disturbing moment, but he was able to pull himself
together./
[pull oneself up by the bootstraps] or [pull oneself up by one's
own bootstraps] {adv. phr.} To succeed without help; succeed by your
own efforts. * /He had to pull himself up by the bootstraps./
[pull one's leg] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get someone to accept a
ridiculous story as true; fool someone with a humorous account of
something; trick. * /For a moment, I actually believed that his wife
had royal blood. Then I realized he was pulling my leg./ * /Western
cowboys loved to pull a stranger's leg./ Compare: STRING ALONG. -
[leg-pulling] {n.} * /Strangers were often fooled by the cowboys'
leg-pulling./
[pull one's punches] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. Not to hit as hard as
you can. * /Jimmy pulled his punches and let Paul win the boxing
match./ 2. To hide unpleasant facts or make them seem good. - Usually
used in the negative. * /The mayor spoke bluntly; he didn't pull any
punches./ Contrast: STRAIGHT PROM THE SHOULDER.
[pull one's teeth] {v. phr.} To take power away from; make
powerless. * /The general pulled the teeth of the rebel army by
blocking its ammunition supply line./ * /The student government
council was so irresponsible that the principal pulled its teeth./
[pull one's weight] {v. phr.} To do your full share of work; do
your part. * /In a small shop, it is important that each man pull his
weight./ * /When Mother was sick in the hospital, Father said each
child must pull his own weight./ Compare: WORTH ONE'S SALT.
[pullout] {n.} An evacuation. * /The pullout of the American
military proceeded on schedule./
[pull out] {v. phr.} 1. To withdraw; leave unceremoniously. * /The
defeated army hastily pulled out of the occupied territories./ 2. To
leave (said about trains). * /The train pulled out of Grand Central
Station just as the foreign students got there./ 3. To remove by
order; evacuate. * /Napoleon pulled his beaten troops out of Russia./
[pull out of a hat] {v. phr.}, {informal} To get as if by magic;
invent; imagine. * /When the introduction to a dictionary tells you
how many hours went into its making, these figures were not pulled out
of a hat./ * /Let's see you pull an excuse out of your hat./
[pull over] {v.} To drive to the side of the road and stop. * /The
policeman told the speeder to pull over./ * /Everyone pulled over to
let the ambulance pass./
[pull rank] {v. phr.}, {slang}, {informal} To assert one's superior
position or authority on a person of lower rank as in exacting a
privilege or a favor. * /How come you always get the night duty? -
Phineas Leman pulled rank on me./
[pull something on one] {v. phr.} To perpetrate something
prejudicial; deceive. * /Larry pulled a very dirty trick on Ann when,
after going with her for three years, he suddenly married another
girl./
[pull strings] or [pull wires] {v. phr.}, {informal} To secretly
use influence and power, especially with people in charge or in
important jobs to do or get something; make use of friends to gain
your wishes. * /If you want to see the governor, Mr. Root can pull
strings for you./ * /Jack pulled wires and got us a room at the
crowded hotel./ - [wire-puller] {n.} * /Bill got a ticket for
speeding, but his father is a wire-puller and got it fixed./ -
[wire-pulling] {n.} * /It took some wire-pulling to get the mayor to
come to the party./
[pull the plug on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To expose (someone's) secret
activities. * /The citizens' committee pulled the plug on the mayor,
and he lost his election./
[pull the rug out from under] {v. phr.}, {informal} To withdraw
support unexpectedly from; to spoil the plans of. * /Bill thought he
would be elected, but his friends pulled the rug out from under him
and voted for Vin./ * /We were planning a vacation, but the baby's
illness pulled the rug out from under us./
[pull the wool over one's eyes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To fool
someone into thinking well of you; deceive. * /The businessman had
pulled the wool over his partner's eyes about their financial
position./ * /Bob tried to pull the wool over his teacher's eyes, but
she was too smart for him./
[pull through] {v.} 1. To help through; bring safely through a
difficulty or sudden trouble; save. * /A generous loan showed the
bank's faith in Father and pulled him through the business trouble./
2. To recover from an illness or misfortune; conquer a disaster;
escape death or failure. * /By a near-miracle, he pulled through after
the smashup./
[pull together] {v.} To join your efforts with those of others;
work on a task together; cooperate. * /Many men must pull together if
a large business is to succeed./ * /Tim was a good football captain
because he always got his teammates to pull together./
[pull up] {v.} 1. To check the forward motion of; halt; stop. * /He
pulled up his horse at the gate./ 2. To tell (someone) to stop doing
something; say (someone) is doing wrong and must stop; scold. * /Jim
talked rudely to Mother, and Father pulled him up./ * /Ann said in her
report that America was discovered in 1634, and the teacher pulled her
up./ 3. To stop moving forward; halt. * /The car slowed down and
pulled up at the curb./ 4. To come even with; move up beside. * /The
other boat pulled up alongside us./
[pull up one's socks] {v. phr.} To try to do better, either in
terms of one's behavior or at a task one is performing. * /I'll have
to pull up my socks if I am going to finish my work today./
[pull up short] {v. phr.} To suddenly stop. * /He pulled up short
in his red car at the corner when he saw a pregnant lady crossing./ *
/When Mark saw that he was hurting Jill's feelings, he pulled up short
and started to talk about something entirely different./
[pull up stakes] {v. phr.}, {informal} To leave the place where you
have been living. * /We are going to pull up stakes and move to
California./ * /The Jones family pulled up stakes three times in two
years./
[pull wires] See: PULL STRINGS.
[punch] See: BEAT TO THE PUNCH, PACK A PUNCH, PULL ONE'S PUNCHES,
TAKE A PUNCH AT.
[punch-drunk] {adj.} 1. Dazed or become dulled in the mind from
being hit in the head. * /He was a punch-drunk boxer who made his
living shining shoes./ 2. In a foggy state of mind; groggy. * /Mary
was so thrilled at winning the contest she acted punch-drunk./ * /Mark
was punch-drunk for a few minutes after he fell off his bicycle./
[puppy love] also [calf love] {n.}, {informal} The first love of
very young people. * /When John and Mary began going around together
in junior high school, their parents said it was just puppy love./
[pure and simple] {adj.} Simply stated; basic. - Follows the noun
it modifies and is used for emphasis. * /The problem, pure and simple,
is finding a baby-sitter./ * /The question, pure and simple, is
whether you will support me./ Compare: BOIL DOWN(3).
[purpose] See: AT CROSS PURPOSES, ON PURPOSE, TO ALL INTENTS AND
PURPOSES.
[purse] See: LINE ONE'S POCKETS also LINE ONE'S PURSE.
[purse strings] {n.} Care or control of money. * /Dad holds the
purse strings in our family./ * /The treasurer refused to let go of
the club's purse strings./
[push around] {v.}, {informal} To be bossy with; bully. * /Don't
try to push me around!/ * /Paul is always pushing the smaller children
around./
[push off] or [shove off] {v.} 1. To push a boat away from the
shore. * /Before Tom could reach the boat, Jake had shoved off./ 2.
{slang} To start; leave. * /We were ready to push off at ten o'clock,
but had to wait for Jill./ * /Jim was planning to stay at the beach
all day, but when the crowds arrived he shoved off./
[push on] {v. phr.} To press forward; proceed forward laboriously.
* /The exhausted mountain climbers pushed on, despite the rough
weather, as the peak was already in sight./
[push one's luck] See: PRESS ONE'S LUCK.
[pushover] {n.} 1. Something easy to accomplish or overcome. * /For
Howard steering a boat is a pushover as he was raised on a tropical
island./ 2. A person easily seduced. * /It is rumored that she is a
pushover when she has a bit to drink./
[push over] {v. phr.} To upset; overthrow. * /She is standing on
her feet very solidly; a little criticism from you certainly won't
push her over./ * /The wind in Chicago can be so strong that sometimes
I'm afraid I'll get pushed over./
[push the panic button] {v. phr.}, {slang} To become very much
frightened; nervous or excited, especially at a time of danger or
worry. * /John thought he saw a ghost and pushed the panic button./ *
/Keep cool; don't hit the panic button!/ Syn.: LOSE ONE'S HEAD.
[push-up] {n.} An exercise to build strong arms and shoulders, in
which you lie on your stomach and push your body up on your hands and
toes. * /At the age of seventy, Grandpa still does twenty push-ups
every day./ * /The football team does push-ups every day./
[push up daisies] {v. phr.}, {slang} To be dead and buried. * /I'll
be around when you're pushing up daisies./ * /Don't play with guns or
you may push up the daisies./
[put] See: HARD PUT or HARD PUT TO IT, STAY PUT.
[put about] {v. phr.} - Nautical usage. To turn in the opposite
direction; turn around. * /When we saw the storm clouds thickening in
the sky, we put about quickly and raced ashore./
[put a bee in one's bonnet] See: BEE IN ONE'S BONNET.
[put a bug in one's ear] or [put a flea in one's ear] See: BUG IN
ONE'S EAR.
[put across] {v.} 1. To explain clearly; make yourself understood;
communicate. * /He knew how to put his ideas across./ Compare: GET
ACROSS. 2. {informal} To get (something) done successfully; bring to
success; make real. * /He put across a big sales campaign./ * /The new
librarian put across a fine new library building./ Syn.: PUT OVER(2).
Compare: PULL OFF.
[put all one's eggs in one basket] {v. phr.} To place all your
efforts, interests, or hopes in a single person or thing. * /Going
steady in high school is putting all your eggs in one basket too
soon./ * /To buy stock in a single company is to put all your eggs in
one basket./ * /He has decided to specialize in lathe work, although
he knows it is risky to put all his eggs in one basket./
[put a new face on] {v. phr.} To alter the aspect of something;
change. * /Mr. Merry man's announcement of his candidacy for governor
puts an entirely new face on the political scene in our state./
[put an end to] or [put a stop to] {v. phr.} 1. To make (something)
end; stop; end. * /The farmer built an electric fence around his field
to put an end to trespassing./ * /The principal said that running in
the halls was dangerous, and told the teachers to put a stop to it./
2. To destroy or kill. * /The new highway took most of the traffic
from the old road and put an end to Mr. Hanson's motel business./ *
/When the horse broke his leg, the farmer put an end to him./
[put aside] {v. phr.} 1. To save; put something aside for a special
purpose. * /Peter puts $100 aside every week./ 2. To let go of; put
away. * /The teacher to the students, "Put your books aside and start
writing your tests!"/
[put away] {v.} 1. To put in the right place or out of sight. *
/She put away the towels./ 2. To lay aside; stop thinking about. * /He
put his worries away for the weekend./ 3. {informal} To eat or drink.
* /He put away a big supper and three cups of coffee./ Compare: STOW
AWAY. 4. {informal} To put in a mental hospital. * /He had to put his
wife away when she became mentally ill./ 5. To put to death for a
reason; kill. * /He had his dog put away when it became too old and
unhappy./
[put back the clock] or [turn back the clock] {v. phr.} To go back
in time; relive the past. * /If I could put back the clock I'd give
more thought to preparing for a career./ * /Richard wishes that he had
lived in frontier days, but he can't turn back the clock./
[put by] {v.} To save for the future; lay aside. * /He had put by a
good sum during a working lifetime./
[putdown] {n.} An insult, * /It was a nasty putdown when John
called his sister a fat cow./
[put down] {v. phr.} 1. To stop by force, crush. * /In 24 hours the
general had entirely put down the rebellion./ 2. To put a stop to;
check. * /She had patiently put down unkind talk by living a good
life./ 3. To write a record of; write down. * /He put down the story
while it was fresh in his mind./ 4. To write a name in a list as
agreeing to do something. * /The banker put himself down for $1000./ *
/Sheila put Barbara down for the decorations./ 5. To decide the kind
or class of; characterize. * /He put the man down as a bum./ * /He put
it down as a piece of bad luck./ 6. To name as a cause; attribute. *
/He put the odd weather down to nuclear explosions./ 7. To dig; drill;
sink. * /He put down a new well./
[put forth] {v. phr.} To produce; issue; send out. * /In the spring
the apple trees put forth beautiful white blossoms./ * /The chairman
of the board put forth an innovative proposal that was circulated by
mail./
[put ideas into one's head] {v. phr.} To persuade someone to do
something negative; put one up to something. * /Billy would never have
poured glue into his father's shoes if the neighbor's son hadn't been
putting ideas into his head./
[put in] {v.} 1. To add to what has been said; say (something) in
addition to what others say. * /While the boys were discussing the car
accident, Ben put in that the road was icy./ * /My father put in a
word for me and I got the job./ 2. To buy and keep in a store to sell.
* /He put in a full stock of drugs./ 3. To spend (time). * /He put in
many years as a printer./ * /He put in an hour a day reading./ 4. To
plant. * /He put in a row of radishes./ 5. To stop at a port on a
journey by water. * /After the fire, the ship put in for repairs./ 6.
To apply; ask. - Used with "for". * /When a better job was open, he
put in for it./ * /The sailor put in for time to visit his family
before the ship went to sea./
[put in a word for] {v. phr.} To speak in favor of someone;
recommend someone. * /"Don't worry about your job application," Sam
said to Tim. "I'll put in a word for you with the selection
committee."/
[put in an appearance] also [make an appearance] {v. phr.} To be
present, esp. for a short time; visit; appear. * /He put in an
appearance at work, but he was too ill to stay./ * /The president put
in an appearance at several dances the evening after he was sworn in./
[put in mind of] {v. phr.}, {nonstandard} To remind of; suggest to;
call up the memory of. * /She puts me in mind of my sister./ * /That
puts me in mind of a story./
[put in one's place] {v. phr.}, {informal} To criticize someone for
impolite boldness; remind someone of low rank or position; reduce
someone's unsuitable pride; deflate. * /The assistant was trying to
take command when the professor put him in his place by saying, "No,
I'm the boss here."/ * /She was a teacher who could put a troublemaker
in his place with just a glance./ Syn.: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put in one's two cents worth] See: TWO CENTS(2).
[put in one's way] See: PUT IN THE WAY OF.
[put in the way of] or [put in one's way] {v. phr.} To set before
(someone); give to (someone); show the way to; help toward. * /After
Joe graduated, the coach put him in the way of a good job./ * /The
librarian put me in the way of a lot of new material on the subject of
my report./
[put (it) in black and white] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put (it) in writing] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put it on thick] See: LAY IT ON.
[put off] {v.} 1. {informal} To cause confusion in; embarrass;
displease. * /I was rather put off by the shamelessness of his
proposal./ * /The man's slovenliness put me off./ 2. To wait and have
(something) at a later time; postpone. * /They put off the picnic
because of the rain./ 3. To make (someone) wait; turn aside. * /When
he asked her to name a day for their wedding, she put him off./ *
/When the bill collector called, Mrs. Smith managed to put him off./
4. To draw away the attention; turn aside; distract. * /Little Jeannie
began to tell the guests some family secrets, but Father was able to
put her off./ 5. To move out to sea; leave shore. * /They put off in
small boats to meet the coming ship./ Syn.: PUT OUT.
[put on] {v. phr.} 1. To dress in. * /The boy took off his clothes
and put on his pajamas./ * /Mother put a coat on the baby./ 2a. To
pretend; assume; show. * /Mary isn't really sick; she's only putting
on./ * /He put on a smile./ * /The child was putting on airs./ 2b. To
exaggerate; make too much of. * /That's rather putting it on./
Compare: LAY IT ON. 3. To begin to have more (body weight); gain
(weight). * /Mary was thin from sickness, and the doctor said she must
put on ten pounds./ * /Too many sweets and not enough exercise will
make you put on weight./ 4a. To plan and prepare; produce; arrange;
give; stage. * /The senior class put on a dance./ * /The actor put on
a fine performance./ 4b. To make (an effort). * /The runner put on an
extra burst of speed and won the race./ 5. To choose to send; employ
on a job. * /The school put on extra men to get the new building
ready./
[put-on] {n.} An act of teasing; the playing of a practical joke on
someone. * /Eric didn't realize that it was a put-on when his friends
phoned him that he won the lottery./
[put on airs] {v. phr.} To show conceit; act in a superior or
condescending manner. * /The fact that her parents own a villa in
Capri is no reason for Amanda to keep putting on airs./
[put on an act] {v. phr.} 1. To perform a play. * /The seventh
grade put on a lovely act for Christmas for the parents./ 2. To
pretend. * /"If you always put on an act," her father said, "people
will never know who you really are."/
[put on ice] See: ON ICE(2).
[put one in one's place] See: CUT DOWN TO SIZE.
[put one in the picture] {v. phr.} To inform someone of all the
facts about a given situation. * /Once you're back from your overseas
trip, we'll put you in the picture about recent developments at home./
[put one on a pedestal] {v. phr.} To exaggeratedly worship or
admire a person. * /Daniel puts Elaine on a pedestal and caters to her
every whim./
[put one on one's feet] See: ON ONE'S FEET(2).
[put one out of the way] See: OUT OF THE WAY(3).
[put one through one's paces] {v. phr.} To train and discipline
someone; test one's abilities. * /The new recruits were certainly put
through their paces by the drill sergeant./
[put one wise] {v. phr.} To bring one up-to-date; inform someone;
explain. * /Our old friend David put us wise as to where the best used
cars could be found in Chicago./
[put one's back to it] {v. phr.} To make a real effort; to try. *
/You can finish the job by noon if you put your back to it./ * /I'm
sure you can make the football team if you put your back to it./
[put one's best foot forward] {v. phr.}, {informal} To try to make
a good impression; try to make a good appearance; do one's best. *
/During courtship, it is natural to put your best foot forward./ *
/When Ted applied for the job he put his best foot forward./
[put one's cards on the table] See: LAY ONE'S CARDS ON THE TABLE.
[put oneself in another's place] or [put oneself in another's
shoes] {v. phr.} To understand another person's feeling imaginatively;
try to know his feelings and reasons with understanding; enter into
his trouble. * /It seemed like a dreadful thing for Bob to do, but I
tried to put myself in his place./ * /If you will put yourself in the
customer's shoes you may realize why the thing isn't selling./
[put one's finger on] also [lay one's finger on] {v. phr.} To find
exactly. * /The engineers couldn't put their fingers on the reason for
the rocket's failure to orbit./ * /We called in an electrician hoping
he could put a finger on the cause of the short circuit./
[put one's foot down] {v. phr.}, {informal} To take a decided
stand; be stubborn in decision. * /John didn't want to practice his
piano lesson, but his teacher put his foot down./ * /When it came to
smoking pot at parties, our parents put their foot down./
[put one's foot in it] or [put one's foot in one's mouth] {v.
phr.}, {informal} To speak carelessly and rudely; hurt another's
feelings without intending to; make a rude mistake. * /He put his foot
in it with his remark about self-made men because Jones was one of
them./ * /She put her foot in her mouth with her joke about that
church, not knowing that one of the guests belonged to it./
[put one's hand on] See: LAY ONE'S HANDS ON(3).
[put one's hand to] or [set one's hand to] or [turn one's hand to]
{v. phr.} To start working at; try to do. * /Hal does a good job at
everything mat he turns his hand to./ * /After Mr. Sullivan found
farming unprofitable, he moved to town and turned his hand to
carpentry./
[put one's hand to the plow] or [set one's hand to the plow] {v.
phr.} To start doing something of importance; give yourself to a big
job. * /We felt that he had put his hand to the plow, and we didn't
like it when he quit./
[put one's head in the sand] See: HIDE ONE'S HEAD IN THE SAND.
[put one's heart on one's sleeve] See: HEART ON ONE'S SLEEVE.
[put one's money on a scratched horse] {v. phr.}, {informal} To bet
on a certain failure; to gamble without a chance of winning. * /You
bet on the New York Mets to win the World Series? Why put your money
on a scratched horse?/ Compare: STACK THE CARDS.
[put one's nose out of joint] {v. phr.}, {informal} 1. To make you
jealous; leave you out of favor. * /When Jane accepted Tom's
invitation it put Jack's nose out of joint./ 2. To ruin your plans;
cause you disappointment. * /Joe's mother put his nose out of joint by
not letting him go to the movie./
[put one's house in order] or [set one's house in order] {v. phr.}
To arrange your affairs in good order. * /Grandfather knew he would
not live long and set his house in order./ * /When Mr. Black died, his
lawyer helped the widow put her house in order./
[put one's shoulder to the wheel] {v. phr.} To make a great effort
yourself or with others; try hard; cooperate. * /The effort to get a
new high school succeeded because everyone put his shoulder to the
wheel./ * /The company was failing in business until a new manager put
his shoulder to the wheel./
[put on one's thinking cap] {v. phr.} To think hard and long about
some problem or question. * /Miss Stone told her pupils to put on
their thinking caps before answering the question./
[put on paper] See: BLACK AND WHITE.
[put on the back burner] See: ON ICE.
[put on the dog] {v. phr.} To behave ostentatiously in terms of
dress and manner. * /"Stop putting on the dog with me," Sue cried at
Roy. "I knew the real you from way hack!"/
[put on the line] See: LAY ON THE LINE.
[put on the map] {v. phr.} To make (a place) well known. * /The
first successful climb of Mount Matterhorn put Zermatt, Switzerland,
on the map./ * /Shakespeare put his hometown of Stratford-on-Avon on
the map./
[put out] {v.} 1. To make a flame or light stop burning;
extinguish; turn off. * /Please put the light out when you leave the
room./ * /The firemen put out the blaze./ 2. To prepare for the
public; produce; make. * /For years he had put out a weekly
newspaper./ * /It is a small restaurant, which puts out an excellent
dinner./ 3. To invest or loan money. * /He put out all his spare money
at 4 percent or better./ 4. To make angry; irritate; annoy. * /It puts
the teacher out to be lied to./ * /Father was put out when Jane
spilled grape juice on his new suit./ 5. {informal} To cause
inconvenience to; bother. * /He put himself out to make things
pleasant for us./ * /Will it put you out if I borrow your pen?/
Compare: GO OUT OF ONE'S WAY. 6. To retire from play in baseball. *
/The runner was put out at first base./ 7. To go from shore; leave. *
/A Coast Guard boat put out through the waves./ 8. {vulgar},
{avoidable} Said of women easy and ready to engage in sexual
intercourse. * /It is rumored that Hermione gets her promotions as
fast as she does because she puts out./
[put out of action] See: OUT OF ACTION.
[put out of the way] {v. phr.} To kill. * /When people spoke
against the dictator, he had them put out of the way./ * /The old dog
was very sick, and Father had the animal doctor put him out of the
way./
[put over] {v.} 1. To wait to a later time; postpone. * /They put
over the meeting to the following Tuesday./ Syn.: PUT OFF. 2.
{informal} To make a success of; complete. * /He put over a complex
and difficult business deal./ Syn.: BRING OFF, PUT ACROSS, SLIP OVER.
3. {informal} To practice deception; trick; fool. - Used with "on". *
/George thought he was putting something over on the teacher when he
said he was absent the day before because his mother was sick and
needed him./ * /Tom really slipped one over on us when he came to the
Halloween party dressed as a witch./
[put someone on] {v.} To play a joke on someone by saying or doing
things that are only pretense; kid. * /When the voice on the phone
told Mrs. Jones she had won a $10,000 prize, she thought someone was
putting her on./
[put that in your pipe and smoke it] {v. phr.}, {informal} To
understand something told you; accept something as fact or reality;
not try to change it. - Usually used as a command, normally only in
speech, and often considered rude. * /People don't vote against Santa
Claus, and you might as well put that in your pipe and smoke it./ * /I
am not going to do that and you can put that in your pipe and smoke
it./
[put the bite on] {v. phr.}, {slang} To ask (for money, favors,
etc.) * /John put the bite on his friend for several tickets to the
dance./ * /Willie Mays put the bite on the Giants for a large raise./
[put the cart before the horse] See: CART BEFORE THE HORSE.
[put their heads together] or [lay their heads together] {v. phr.},
{informal} To plan or consider things together; discuss something as a
group; talk it over. * /They put their heads together and decided on a
gift./ * /We laid our heads together and decided to have a picnic./
[put through] {v. phr.} 1. To carry out; arrange. * /If Jim can put
through one more financial transaction like this one, we will be
rich./ 2. To connect (said of telephone calls). * /The telephone
operator had to put me through to Zambia as there is no direct dialing
there yet./
[put through one's paces] {v. phr.}, {informal} To test the
different abilities and skills of a person or a thing; call for a show
of what one can do. * /He put his new car through its paces./ * /Many
different problems put the new mayor through his paces in the first
months of his term./
[put to bed] {v. phr.} 1. To put to rest for the night. * /Father
put the three children to bed./ * /The boy seemed ill, so the nurse
put him to bed./ 2. {informal} To complete preparations and print. *
/The newspaper was put to bed at 1:15 A.M./ * /The pressroom was late
in putting the sports section to bed./
[put to it] {adj. phr.} Hard pressed; having trouble; in
difficulty; puzzled. * /When he lost his job, he was rather put to it
for a while to provide for his family./ * /The boy was put to it to
answer the teacher's question./
[put to rights] or [set to rights] {v. phr.}, {informal} To put in
good order; clean up. * /It took the company a long time to put the
office to rights after the fire./ * /It took Mrs. Smith an hour to set
the room to rights after the party./
[put to sea] {v. phr.} To start a voyage. * /The captain said the
ship would put to sea at six in the morning./ * /In the days of
sailing ships, putting to sea depended on the tides./
[put to shame] {v. phr.} 1. To disgrace. * /The cleanliness of
European cities puts our cities to shame./ * /That filthy dump puts
our town to shame./ 2. To do much better than surpass. * /Einstein put
other physicists to shame when he proved his theory of relativity
correct./
[put to sleep] {v. phr.} 1. To cause to fall asleep. * /Mother used
to put us to sleep by telling us a good-night story and giving us a
kiss./ 2. To kill with an injection (said of animals). * /Dr. Murphy,
the veterinarian, put our sick, old dog to sleep./
[put to the sword] {v. phr.}, {literary} To kill (people) in war,
especially with a sword. * /The Romans put their enemies to the
sword./ * /In some wars captives have been put to the sword./
[put to use] {v. phr.} To use. * /During the early part of the
Korean war the cooks and office workers of the U.S. Army were put to
use in battle./ * /Henry decided to put his dictionary to use./ * /I
wish you'd put the lawn mower to use!/
[put two and two together] {v. phr.} To make decisions based on
available proofs; reason from the known facts; conclude; decide. * /He
had put two and two together and decided where they had probably
gone./ * /It was just a mater of putting two and two together: the
facts seemed to permit only one decision./
[put up] {v.} 1a. To make and pack (especially a lunch or
medicine); get ready; prepare. * /Every morning Mother puts up lunches
for the three children./ * /The druggist put up the medicine that the
doctor had prescribed./ Compare: MAKE UP(1). 1b. To put food into jars
or cans to save; can. * /Mother is putting up peaches in jars./ 1c. To
store away for later use. * /The farmer put up three tons of hay for
the winter./ 2. To put in place; put (something) where it belongs. *
/After he unpacked the car, John put it up./ * /After the hard ride,
the doctor gave the horse to the stable boy to put up./ * /After the
battle, the knight put up his sword./ Syn.: PUT AWAY. 3. To suggest
that (someone) be chosen a member, officer, or official. * /The club
decided to take in another member, and Bill put up Charles./ - Often
used with "for". * /The Republicans put Mr. Williams up for mayor./ 4.
To put (hair) a special way; arrange. * /Aunt May puts up her hair in
curlers every night./ Compare: DO UP(3a). 5. To place on sale; offer
for sale. * /She put the house up for sale./ 6a. To provide lodging
for; furnish a room to. * /The visitor was put up in the home of Mr.
Wilson./ * /They put Frank up at a good hotel./ 6b. To rent or get
shelter; take lodging; stay in a place to sleep. * /The traveler put
up at a motel./ * /We put up with friends on our trip to Canada./ 7.
To make; engage in. * /He put up a good fight against his sickness./
Compare: CARRY ON. 8. To furnish (money) or something needed; pay for.
* /He put up the money to build a hotel./
[put-up] {adj.} Artificially arranged; plotted; phony; illegal. *
/The FBI was sure that the bank robbers worked together with an
insider and that the whole affair was a put-up job./
[put up a (brave, good, etc.) flght] {v. phr.} To resist. * /He put
up a good fight but he was bound to lose in the end to the older, more
experienced chess player./
[put up a (brave] or [good) front] {v. phr.} To act courageously,
even though one is actually afraid. * /When Joe was taken in for his
open heart surgery, he put up a brave front, although his hands were
shaking./
[put up or shut up] {v. phr.} {informal} 1. To bet your money on
what you say or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /The man from out of town kept saying their team
would beat ours and finally John told him "Put up or shut up."/ 2. To
prove something or stop saying it. - Often used as a command; often
considered rude. * /George told Al that he could run faster than the
school champion and Al told George to put up or shut up./
[put upon] {v.} To use (someone) unfairly; expect too much from. -
Used in the passive or in the past participle. * /Martha was put upon
by the bigger girls./ * /Arthur was a much put-upon person./
[put up to] {v. phr.}, {informal} To talk to and make do; persuade
to; get to do. * /Older boys put us up to painting the statue red./
Compare: EGG ON.
[put up with] {v.} To accept patiently; bear. * /We had to put up
with Jim's poor table manners because he refused to change./ * /The
mother told her children, "I refuse to put up with your tracking in
mud!"/ Compare: STAND FOR.
[put wise] {v.}, {slang} To tell (someone) facts that will give him
an advantage over others or make him alert to opportunity or danger. *
/The new boy did not know that Jim was playing a trick on him, so I
put him wise./ - Often used with "to". * /Someone put the police wise
to the plan of the bank robbers, and when the robbers went into the
bank, the police were waiting to catch them./ Compare: TIP OFF.
[put words into one's mouth] {v. phr.} To say without proof that
another person has certain feelings or opinions; claim a stand or an
idea is another's without asking; speak for another without right. *
/When he said "John here is in favor of the idea." I told him not to
put words in my mouth./
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Полезные советы/инфо от Face-Off |
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